January 3 2006

Andy Johnson

Christmas might only come once a year, but we all will be hoping that the run that we have now established over the festive period carries on until all the Easter Eggs have been devoured, writes Simon Pophale.

Leicester came to Selhurst trying to improve on their position, five places off the bottom while we were becoming upwardly mobile, five from the top.

Leicester struck first, Stephen Hughes firing wide from around 20 yards. Our first attempt on goal nearly resulted in us taking the lead. AJ made a sprint down the right and sent over a cross which Morrison forced Rab Douglas into a point blank save from 6 yards on 11 minutes.

Danny Tiatto, who went down injured as AJ was making his run was substituted for RYAN SMITH. Another AJ run minutes later ended up with Watson shooting over. Leicester hit back but an Iain Hume header drifted harmlessly wide following a cross from Hughes.

Both teams were scrapping for the ball and despite Leicester's somewhat lowly position in the league, were proving to be a stubborn opponent.

The game sat in the midfield and despite their not being able to provide any meaningful threat on goal, we were not able to threatened Douglas’ goal either.

That was until the 35th minute when a mix-up between Stearman and Douglas led to us getting the first corner and after the ball bounced around the area of various heads, Fitz Hall drove the ball wide from 6 yards.

More was to come as Ben Watson drove in a shot from 25 yards which despite getting a deflection and just escaping the path of Morrison, Douglas got behind and the half ended scoreless.

We aimed to start the 2nd half as well as we finished the 1st and Watson again was denied by Douglas from a free kick, his direct 30 yard effort being pushed around for a corner.

The result of that was a possible handball against Patrick McCarthy, which the referee waved away. Minutes later, Morrison shrugged of McCarthy and bore down on goal, only to be stopped by the referee who seemed to have no knowledge of the advantage rule. The free-kick brought no reward, much to our displeasure.

McCarthy again got the benefit of the decision as he clattered into AJ who looked odds on to score. Referee Penton looked to his linesman and gave nothing. It was looking like 12-man Leicester could grind out a point.

Dowie made changes, bringing on Freedman for Morrison and as time went on, Leicester's only threat to our goal came from a throw which bounced across the box and between Boyce, Ward and Kiraly, all left it to each other, which saw the ball bounce over harmlessly.

The away fans treated this as if the ball had bounced off the woodwork, as it was as close as they had come all afternoon, after an hours' play.

Time was ticking by and it looked like we were not going to break Leicester down. De Vries got away with what seemed like another handball and the following corner was missed by everyone and Freedman, from a yard out, failed to connect to what was going to be a certain goal.

Then, with all hopes fading that we would find the winner, McCarthy again handled in the box and to the amazement of all, Referee Penton gave the penalty.

AJ however fired his shot low and hard to the right, but Douglas guessed correctly, much to the away supporters' delight. But they were silenced 2 minutes later, as we finally took the lead.

Freedman found space on the right and skipped past Maybury and his cross was met 12 yards out by McAnuff who gleefully tapped home. Sounds of “McAnuff, McAnuff – Jobi McAnuff” rang out around Selhurst. Leicester fans fell silent.

Gudjonsson hit another long range effort on 83 minutes wide with Kiraly needing to do nothing, like for most of the 2nd half. In the last minute of injury time, Leigertwood found AJ who, leaving McCarthy and Stearman in his wake, fired past Douglas from 18 yards to end the contest.

The final whistle went moments later and Dowie gave a 4 fingered salute to the crowd after the traditional punch. Let’s hope this run takes on Reading-esque proportions!